Christianity at its best embodies this provocative idea and has long been committed to preserving, expanding and sharing truth. Most of the great universities of the world were founded by Christians committed to the truth—in all its forms—and to training new generations to carry it forward.

When science began in the 17th century, Christians eagerly applied the new knowledge to alleviate suffering and improve living conditions.

But when it comes to the truth of evolution, many Christians feel compelled to look the other way. They hold on to a particular interpretation of an ancient story in Genesis that they have fashioned into a modern account of origins - a story that began as an oral tradition for a wandering tribe of Jews thousands of years ago.

This is the view on display in a $27 million dollar Creation Museum in Kentucky. It inspired the Institute for Creation Research, which purports to offer scientific support for creationism.

While Genesis contains wonderful insights into the relationship between God and the creation, it simply does not contain scientific ideas about the origin of the universe, the age of the earth or the development of life.

For more than two centuries, careful scientific research, much of it done by Christians, has demonstrated clearly that the earth is billions years old, not mere thousands, as many creationists argue. We now know that the human race began millions of years ago in Africa - not thousands of years ago in the Middle East, as the story in Genesis suggests.

And all life forms are related to each other though evolution. These are important truths that science has discovered through careful research. They are not “opinions” that can be set aside if you don’t like them.

Anyone who values truth must take these ideas seriously, for they have been established as true beyond any reasonable doubt.

There is much evidence for evolution. The most compelling comes from the study of genes, especially now that the Human Genome Project has been completed and the genomes of many other species being constantly mapped.

In particular, humans share an unfortunate “broken gene” with many other primates, including chimpanzees, orangutans, and macaques. This gene, which works fine in most mammals, enables the production of Vitamin C. Species with broken versions of the gene can’t make Vitamin C and must get it from foods like oranges and lemons.

Thousands of hapless sailors died painful deaths scurvy during the age of exploration because their “Vitamin C” gene was broken.

How can different species have identical broken genes? The only reasonable explanation is that they inherited it from a common ancestor.

Not surprisingly, evolution since the time of Darwin has claimed that humans, orangutans, chimpanzees, and macaques evolved recently from a common ancestor. The new evidence from genetics corroborates this.

Such evidence proves common ancestry with a level of certainty comparable to the evidence that the earth goes around the sun.

This is but one of many, many evidences that support the truth of evolution - that make it a “sacred fact” that Christians must embrace in the name of truth. And they should embrace this truth with enthusiasm, for this is the world that God created.

Christians must come to welcome - rather than fear - the ideas of evolution. Truths about Nature are sacred, for they speak of our Creator. Such truths constitute “God’s second book” for Christians to read alongside the Bible.

In the 17th century, Galileo used the metaphor of the “two books” to help Christians of his generation understand the sacred truth that the earth moves about the sun. “The Bible,” he liked to say, “tells us how to go to heaven, not how the heavens ago.”

To understand how the heavens go we must read the book of Nature, not the Bible.

The Book of nature reveals the truth that God created the world through gradual processes over billions of years, rather than over the course of six days, as many creationists believe.

Evolution does not contradict the Bible unless you force an unreasonable interpretation on that ancient book.

To suppose, as the so-called young earth creationists do, that God dictated modern scientific ideas to ancient and uncomprehending scribes is to distort the biblical message beyond recognition. Modern science was not in the worldview of the biblical authors and it is not in the Bible.

Science is not a sinister enterprise aimed at destroying faith. It’s an honest exploration of the wonderful world that God created.

We are often asked to think about what Jesus would do, if he lived among us today. Who would Jesus vote for? What car would he drive?

To these questions we should add “What would Jesus believe about origins?”

And the answer? Jesus would believe evolution, of course. He cares for the Truth.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Karl W. Giberson.

soundoff(3,562 Responses)

Tao

Simple: God is evolution.

April 10, 2011 at 3:43 pm |

R

Well we're at it I wonder how the Easter Bunny and Santa would weigh in on this topic too

April 10, 2011 at 3:40 pm |

James

The battle isn't over evolution, it's between people who are OK with making their own decisions and living with an amount of uncertainty, and those who dislike making decisions and want a world of certainty. Look at all the debates between fundamental religious people (all religions) and scientific minds. I'll pay $10 to anyone who can give me an example of strife between the 2 camps that can't be boiled down to my assessment. In fact it can be expanded to people who are structured and those who are unstructured, with badness at both extremes and goodness towards the middle.
"Science" is incomplete, so accepting the scientific method means being prepared to accept change. There are "arts" that apply this methodology too, who try new things to see what changes, so you have geeks and artists who have quite a bit in common with each other. Then there are those who can't bear the anxiety of having to make decisions and accept responsibility for the outcome, and so they let others chose for them. This is at the root of most dogmatics, whether it is a fundamentalist Christian, or a one-party voter. Related to them are those who cannot accept change, whether it be for fear-induced reasons, or power-preservation. Religion and dogma offers sanctuary from a world of change (which is why Al-Qaeda wants to return to the 14th century). You often end up with people in power trying to maintain the status-quo (stay in power) by taking advantage of those who fear change.

April 10, 2011 at 3:37 pm |

dafadfa

Creation and evolution, why must these two ideas contradict? Believing in God's creation of heaven and earth and all things in between, doesn't mean we know HOW God created them. Do we know God's physics and dimensions? Who is to say God's concept of time and space are those the same as our own? Who is to say evolution is NOT the process of CREATION?

April 10, 2011 at 3:34 pm |

atomD21

Exactly. There is a disturbing hubris in the church among those who claim to have God all figured out.

April 10, 2011 at 5:16 pm |

nononsense

What I find interesting is that Christians are trained to tell you that everyone is responsible for the message of the gospel since the very magnificence of nature is sufficient testimony; therefore even a primitive tribesman should be able to come to a "correct" understanding of god from the bowels of the Amazon. Yet, these same Christians strenuously deny the very intricacies of nature that are uncovered when scientists do explore as the Bible supposedly implies that they should. They can posture all they like, but the bottom line is that the Bible provides an opportunity for power to the power-hungry and an excuse from action for all the rest.

April 10, 2011 at 3:33 pm |

atomD21

It's because when scientists find evidence that makes Christians think, they get uncomfortable and flat out deny it. They are that way about lots of things. We as Christians are taught from childhood to not ask questions as that shows a lack of faith. It's a nasty thing we have done to generations of people. God is big enough to handle questions, complaints, even screaming and swearing at him. It's amazingly liberating to realize that doubting religious dogma and asking questions is actually a good thing.

April 10, 2011 at 5:13 pm |

Mr Green

Who cares what some imaginary idiot thinks of anything.

April 10, 2011 at 3:27 pm |

KDS

I would suggest stop posting religious topics, its an excuse for people to be rude online. Thank you 🙂

April 10, 2011 at 3:25 pm |

william

This topic always causes the most controversy. There's not a person on Earth who knows how, much less why, life started on this planet. I tend to think that life may in fact be the "meaning" of the universe... that's it's one big nursery for the formation of life. I have no problem believing that we're randomly on this perfect life -producing planet, revolving around the perfect star, or that it's "God's" plan that this would be so. The questions of the beginnings of time, the existence of God, the purpose of it all, are all really way far beyond us... but I do believe that the "truth" of it all, if it's ever discovered, will be more profound, wierd, unexpected, and mind-melding than we could ever imagine. For now, can we just enjoy it?

April 10, 2011 at 3:23 pm |

Doomsheep

Anther possibility in "the Meaning of life" could for us to become God. Maybe there is only one Creator per Universe? Maybe "God" is a team of Scientists Or the head of a Team of scientists. Until we are able as a species to cross over without dying to "Heaven" or whatever it is we will NEVER know the answers to the Greatest questions of our Existence.

April 10, 2011 at 4:02 pm |

Mike

I can't even speculate on what my wife is thinking. How can anyone speculate what an historical figure of 2000 years ago would think? That said, I agree with the premise that Christian's rejection of evolution is a rejection of God, if you believe that God has a hand in nature. Why do people insist on adhering to a view of the natural world (creationism) and laws ('eye for eye", shariah, etc) that are archaic and no longer consistent with our increasing knowledge and standards of human rights? It's as if creationism is a self-fulfilling prophecy, because as long as people believe in it, WE cannot evolve.

April 10, 2011 at 3:23 pm |

Thaddeus

It breaks my heart to see how all the media outlets and all the "power players" of influence are doing they're best to destroy God's word. If you believe in the bible as truth, then you believe in no evolution. The bible is a literal book, not symbolic. At no point does it say one thing and mean another with the purpose of misguiding the reader. If you have a good bible, with accurate translations coming straight from the earliest manuscripts, then you have a book inspired by God Himself to be given to man in order to reveal truth. To say that even one part of the bible is wrong, or to give it a meaning that isn't inherently implied from the original hebrew and greek texts is completely discredit the bible as a whole. You can't pick and choose what is true cause it suits you. Truth is truth and is not subject to change due to opinions. God does not change.

April 10, 2011 at 3:23 pm |

atomD21

Have you read and studied the original Greek and Hebrew texts? If not, be careful to throw that stuff around. That being said, you simply cannot take the entire Bible literally. We do ourselves a disservice to continue asserting that we can. The Psalms are songs and poetry, not factual accounts. Song of Solomon paints a picture of the ugliest woman in history if taken literally. That and no human being is able to read the bible and be completely objective with it. We all interpret scripture based on our views and experiences. A verse may be the lynchpin in your life while it means little to nothing to someone else. God is not a Christian, he is God. The sooner we pull our heads out of the religious sand and realize that God is bigger than man made doctrine the better we'll all be.

April 10, 2011 at 5:04 pm |

Miss Crabtree

It appears to me that most have found themselves falling down the rabbit hole with their views of debate. The bible is a book of faith, and as such should never be used to teach history, or science, or politics for that matter. Just as science can't be used to prove or disprove faith-related belief systems; both, science and matters of faith, are mutually exclusive. Don't even try, it can't and shouldn't be.

April 10, 2011 at 3:20 pm |

Thaddeus

The bible has many scientific facts within it that at the time of its writing would be impossible for a man to know through scientific means. Such as Isaiah 40:22 "He sits enthroned above the CIRCLE of the earth" and Job 26:7 "He spreads out the northern [skies] over empty space; He suspends the Earth over nothing." GOD created all things. Science is merely mans feeble attempt to explain how. And trust me. We usually are wrong.

April 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm |

atomD21

@Thaddeus... God didn't give us the desire to figure out how this world works for nothing. The Bible is not an exhaustive account of how God created the world, and unless you were there, you don't truly know. Why do we assume that God did everything in a neat tidy way that we can understand. I refuse to serve a God that can be completely understood by our limited scope. God exists outside of time, so several billion years is the same as three seconds. Time is immaterial, so is it too unrealisitc to say that God engineered the big bang, the gradual formation of the stars and planets, the beginning of life and its evolution through time to where it is now. Even in Genesis there are two creation accounts, with the timeline of each differing slightly. In the end, does us being right or wrong about how the earth came to be really matter? Does it make God any less God if it wasn't six literal days? Personally I think this issue needs to be relegated to third tier with actually loving and helping people becoming our priority. Jesus didn't waste time with petty arguments and stuff like that. He loved the lowest of all and helped them. In fact, the only ones he spoke out against were the ultra religious holier than thous of his day.

April 10, 2011 at 4:53 pm |

Ken D

It is not possible that Jesus would accept the lie of evolution because He knows that He formed the earth in 6 days and rested the Seventh.

Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

John 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The author must know nothing about the Bible so he definitely doesn't qualify to speak for Jesus.

April 10, 2011 at 3:20 pm |

PeterVN

Hey, Ken, are you a real young earther? We don't get many of those poking their stupid heads up here.

As for the buybull, that horrid book, are you even aware of the errors and self-inconsistencies in it? Easy to get into those.

And what poor animal did you bloodily sacrifice today, as your gruesome buybull clearly demands that you do, in gory detail?

April 10, 2011 at 3:31 pm |

Rich

In the beginning god created a hundred billion galaxies, each with a hundred billion stars, but only put life on one of them. Furthermore, he did so because he liked the smell of charred goat flesh.

April 10, 2011 at 4:04 pm |

atomD21

@Peter... Question for you. How does openly insulting people help further your cause? Just like "Christians" mocking and belittling people in God's name, atheists relegating an entire group to ignorant hillbillies are little more than bullies. Now, what I can't understand is why we can't come in to these very important discussions like adults. @Ken... Proclaiming scripture as absolute truth to those that don't believe in God is pointless. No amount of Bible beating is going to convince someone like Peter that you are right and they are wrong. In truth, we as Christians need to get past this us vs. them mentality. It's not our job to point out the speck in others' eyes while ignoring the plank in our own, as it says in the Bible. We need to love everyone and live lives of value, not religious intolerance and judgement. Now, all that to say, evolution is without a doubt a natural process that I believe God put in place when the world was created to ensure that species could adapt to ever changing conditions. A being that can create all of the world and nature to work in perfect harmony is intelligent enough to create a way to make sure life continues. The fact that Christians are so closed minded as to not allow any new ideas to enter is disheartening at best and terrifying at worst. The Bible is not a science text, and does not purport itself as such. It is only our arrogance and assumption that places it in that realm.

April 10, 2011 at 4:34 pm |

FartingFrenchmen

Hello Dukey English Atheists and their king Dawkins who has the brain of a duck you know! So we french Catholics outwit you a second time on the meaning of life, Oh I burst my pimples at your so called facts and wave my Paarivate parts at your aunties you cheesy lot of electric donkey bottom biters!

April 10, 2011 at 3:19 pm |

Ed

"Such evidence proves common ancestry with a level of certainty comparable to the evidence that the earth goes around the sun."

Absolutely ludicrous claims, such as this one, do not help your case.

April 10, 2011 at 3:18 pm |

Jessy

Oh really, Ed? And what makes you so darn smarter than the hundreds (if not thousands) of scientists with degrees and years of experience and hundreds of years of knowledge passed down to them through the ages? Hmm? Perhaps you can explain to me how in the world Cain (son of Adam & Eve, brother of Abel) was able to pass down his bloodline when Adam & Eve only raised 2 sons? I don't see anything in the Bible to suggest how another woman came into the mix unless the Bible involves massive amounts of incest with Eve (which it doesn't). Read Genesis 4:17. And then try to comprehend how in the world Cain got a wife out of nowhere if God punished him severely for his murderous act. Answer that riddle for me, genius.

April 10, 2011 at 4:18 pm |

Alex

Jesus would not believe in the molecular model of DNA which illustrates this wise article – because this model is pathetically wrong. Ever heard of nucleotides and hydrogen bounds?

April 10, 2011 at 3:16 pm |

PeterVN

No, I've never heard of "hydrogen bounds". I am bound to think, though, that you haven't got a fscking clue about the science that you are trying to blab about.

April 10, 2011 at 3:26 pm |

Ross

I think what Alex is trying to say is that the picture shown to represent DNA in this article is laughable. Like, what the hell are all those little atoms where the hydrogen bonds should be? If you knew anything about biochemistry you would recognize what is wrong with that picture.

April 10, 2011 at 3:51 pm |

billabong

jesus was a product of in vivo fertilization...of course he believes in evolution...

April 10, 2011 at 3:14 pm |

Joe

Very well said Billabong! I believed this always and finally someone put the word on it 🙂

April 10, 2011 at 3:30 pm |

Stephanie

@godisamyth - Why are you insulting my intelligence? Is it because I'm a Christian? I said that I believe in science. I believe in evolution. That doesn't mean I don't believe in God and I don't think the two have to be mutually exclusive. I believe that God created the earth. I don't believe it was in a literal 24 hour 6 days like some people do. I was mainly speaking to Christians when I tried to say that we shouldn't proclaim to believe that God created the whole universe, but that we are smart enough to say that we know exactly how it happened because we have read Genesis.

April 10, 2011 at 3:12 pm |

PeterVN

So how do you account for all the stuff that Genesis gets wrong? And for all the self-inconsistencies in it?

(as you sit under the shade of your mustard tree...)

April 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm |

Stephanie

If I thought you wanted a real answer to that question, I'd engage you in a discussion. But, honestly, it seems that most people are only here to attack people, so I have better things to do.

April 10, 2011 at 3:28 pm |

PeterVN

Bullsh-t. You wimped out and you don't have an answer.

April 10, 2011 at 3:32 pm |

Just4Liberty

@PeterVN

Have you ever explained to a young child what he is eating? The child cannot possibly comprehend the recipe, or the cooking process, so you stick to the basics: "You're eating a hamburger- it comes from a cow. You're eating ketchup- it's made from tomatoes. You're eating fries- they're potatoes." There's a lot more to what they are eating, but you simplify it and put it in terms the child can comprehend.

The men who wrote the books of the Bible could not possibly have comprehended modern-day science. God didn't attempt to reveal the "recipe" or the "cooking process" – there is absolutely no way they could comprehend it. However, he gave them an overview in the form of a 7-day parable. They comprehended it perfectly, and had faith that they would learn the rest later.

The whole story is a microcosm of Christianity- humans can't possibly discover everything on our own, but if humans trust in God, they will one day learn.

I'm not saying that is THE answer, but I'd argue that it's a very plausible explanation.

April 10, 2011 at 3:59 pm |

Jessy

I also believe God created humans (if he is all knowing then he would be a scientist as well). However, unlike the 6-day nut cases, I don't believe for a nanosecond that God create us in 6 literal days. I believe he created us through a process of evolution. And here is another thought: how did God come into existence? Even the most devout Christian can't ignore that kind of question.

April 10, 2011 at 4:01 pm |

Roger

Jesus would not believe in evolution, because Jesus did not exist. "Jesus" Is a total fabrication. It's a myth and no more.

April 10, 2011 at 3:12 pm |

jaysunstar

Even NON-believers have to at least admit that Jesus DID in fact exist. THAT has been scientifically and historically proven. Whether or not he was the son of God or a miracle worker is what most people can't agree on.

April 10, 2011 at 3:19 pm |

john

there is more evidence that jesus existed than there is evidence that thomas jefferson existed

April 10, 2011 at 3:29 pm |

S101

For the type of hard evidence you are seeking on evolution, it's amazing that you will use flimsier evidence about what someone said thousands of years ago.

April 10, 2011 at 3:45 pm |

Just4Liberty

You might want to check your history books. There is no issue as to whether a man named Jesus walked this Earth and told others he was the son of God. The issue is whether or not you believe him.

April 10, 2011 at 3:48 pm |

infocynic

Actually, the evidence that someone named Jesus existed at that time is very thin, akin to evidence that Socrated existed. Either way, it should not really matter if he existed or not, you can still hold up Jesus as a moral compass, just as I would hope you hold up Socrates as an important figure in reasoning and logic.

April 10, 2011 at 3:51 pm |

LogicOnly

I have evolved as a person. Once upon a time I did not find value in religous people or their tremendous desire to disregard logic and fact in favor of blind and unquestining belief in myth and the diminishment of objective thought.

Now I understand all people have value. It turns out if you grind up religious people they fill potholes incredibly well. You see... I have evolved!

Bunch 'o dumb-asses not even one step removed from Joe Caveman believing that the Volcano God might be mad if a virgin isn't sacrificed forthwith.

At least some of the Joe Cavemen evolved into scientists capble of creative and critical thought. Can't say the same about today's religious believers... even as they type their silly arguments on a computer and communicate by means derived entirely from science, logic, and fact.

April 10, 2011 at 3:11 pm |

FartingFrenchmen

Love does not exist, only an illogical prune would believe in such nonsense, you must be religious, therefore it makes you a primitive monkey who throws dog food at little children.

I say the world needs more region and that your logic know as science has killed more people then God ever could, now go away or I shall taunt your mother!

April 10, 2011 at 3:24 pm |

Mark

Man appears to have an impulse for art and religion. Thousands of years of human history provides plenty of evidence for that. Logic doesn't mean that you automatically disregard and denigrate such things. In fact, I believe one could classify that as the false choice fallacy. So please explain to me how your reaction is logical?

April 10, 2011 at 3:30 pm |

LogicOnly

I love the "taunt your mother" comment. It reminds me of Monty Python ("Go away or I shall taunt you some more!").

To the other post, I would say humananity seems certainly to have an impulse towards art, religion, etc. That's fine. In fact, I'd be fine if religion were classed as "a creative fictional artwork" in which case it would "honestly be fiction".

A predisposition or tendency doesn't make things right however. Consider a pedophile (or a Catholic priest, same thing); they may have a predisposition or tendency but that also doesn't make it right or acceptable. Note: using "right" in this case as "generally positive and certainly not harmful to the well being of society at large".

April 10, 2011 at 4:44 pm |

Lojjik

It's the 21st century, is it that hard to accept the scientific fact of evolution?

April 10, 2011 at 3:10 pm |

me

inb4 "it's just a theory" 😐

April 10, 2011 at 3:36 pm |

Doomsheep

Why in the 21st Century you Atheists REFUSE to believe the evidence that Creation IS not only REAL but VERIFIABLE?? FACT domesticated animals were CREATED and did NOT EVOLVE. FACT Most Domesticated Foods & ornamental plants are CREATED and did NOT EVOLVE. Even today geneticists are creating new subspecies yet you DENY this fact. Why is that? what will your answer be when scientiusts create a new life from scratch? Will you sit there screaming LALALALALAL Can't hear you?

April 10, 2011 at 3:41 pm |

Pierre

So Evolution is a fact and all animals are linked to each other by evolution? Nothing in the Bible refutes evolution- in fact in the hebrew the land and the sea are to "Bring forth" life. The big issue with evolution is scientific. There is plenty of evidence for adaptation, but no evidence for speciation via decent with modification.
And if we want to use DNA, every worldwide project, such as the National Geographic, has a challenge- ALL HUMANS share a single parent who lived 40-60,000 years ago. Not millions.....
Why bash faith? Yes you can use fundamentalists as easy targets, yet you hold to as much a closed minded position when you state things like "all scientists" or evolution is a fact.
Many people who bash faith do so because they don't want any accountability....

April 10, 2011 at 3:51 pm |

John Null

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can see God without seeing me first.

" I and my Father are one." John 10:30
" He who has seen me has seen the Father." John 14:9

Jesus went to the cross because He would not recant that which He had sayed earlier," I and my Father are one."

Jesus was found guilty of claiming to be one with God, the Son of God and the beginning of the creation of God,

or in other words, He disclosed that He ( Jesus ) was fulfilling the prophesy by becoming the only blood offering

pure enough to cleanse all sin from all who trust Him to do just that. Forgive sin and simultaneously blot sin out

with His own blood.

is God a believer in evolution? Is Christ also a believer in evolution? Of course! He made all that exhists ( creation )

and therefore became a man through the blood lineage of King David ( the house of Judah ).

The hint is this, God did not create " evolution " ... man did! The concept of evolution was mans way of alienating

himself ( mankind ) even further from God than even sin could do.

Men put Christ to death because the church that Jesus preached included the old testament law of Moses becoming

complete ( no longer required or wanted by God ) because that law was based on HIM dealing with sin AFTER sin

compromised mankind.

Has the earth evolved? Yes. Have species other than man evolved? Of course. In a sense, the old testament law

evolved into Christ, and the end of sin for those who trust in HIM.

For a human being to say they believe in evolution is like saying," I believe in air, oxygen, water, food, sleep."

Of course each exhist. In them is life and rest.

" I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you." John 14:18

Life on earth has progressed ( evolved ) from life, to death and back to life again, through Christ.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.